West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-04-14


Mary Annln q veice uttered
Mary Ann started so violently that she
had nearly dropped the tca-kettle.
IL was Miss Marston who had come an.
eNPectedly up the path, with bunch OF
Colorcd maple-leaves in her hands.
oh, Miss Aida, how YOU startled
me-"
Took me for ghost, ehi" said Aida
Marston, laughing. " But ! wanted 10
see you, Mary Ann. Goodness me" in.
tcnty scrutinizing her face 10y the last
fading CLEANS of daylight "how pretty
the child IS growing don't blame John
ior beng bewitChed about her"
Did you want anythingl" said Mary
Ann, bridling up a little.
want y0H, child" said Aida Mars.
ton, IN the pretty, dominecring manner
which, being school -ma'am," she had
naturally acquired. Can YOU help me
with my sewing little, this week."
Il am afraid cannot, said Mary Ann,
with her face turned away.
ION, Mary Ann and l had counted
on you"
IL caRnotw frigidly repeated the girl.
Miss Marston stood silent minute OF
two.
But you haven't congratulated me
yet, Mary Ann, ~ said she. CoaXipglv.
Mary Ann withdrew herself spasmedic.
ally from the light touch Of her hand
i m sure | hope you will be very
happy, said she. ''No, don't either;
don't hope anything OF that kind"
Ana she fed away, sobbing and hold
ing tight 10 the tea-kettle, whose spout
dnpped all tho way in most lachrv.
matOry fashion.
The Kerosene lamp was lighted when
she reached the room where the balls of
carpet rags We're piled up. John Fair.
weather himself was leaning against the
wooden mantle arch with his elbow in
dangerous proximity 10 the case of dried
butterflies, but her aunt was nowhere TO
be seen.
'She has gone upstairs" the youno
man explained, in answer TO Mary AIMS
bcwildered look, "to get bag of hons
Tor old Mrs. Hubbards' neuralgia. Are
you Ill, Mary Anni You look so white
and weary"
with gentle authority he took the tea
Kettle from her hand, and set il ON the
stove, Mary Ann hclplessly regarding
him the while.
How tall and straight and handsome
he was How pleasant shouo the LIGHT
IRON his genial, hazel eyes, How dearly
She had learned To love him! And now
1t must all be undonc again. Was it not
almost wicked to allow herself TO look ad
mringly upon the face Of the mnn who
belonged TO Aida Marstonl
with these thoughts in her heart IL
was no wonder that her expression crew
iirlgid as an iciclc. She paid no heed to
his question.
Miss Marston was out by the well lust
now, said she. "You will find her
there"
Miss Marston, chr said Mr.. Fair
weather, with provoking cquanimity.
That reminds me-you haven't told me
yet what you think of our ilyarranpc-
mcntsf Were you surpriscdW
Mary Ann looked at him in amazemont
almost in anger.
"Ot course / was surprised, - said She
But" gathering all her presence Of
mind, II don't know why. ftisno bust
ness Of minc!"
But 1t is, though, " said John Fair
weather. 1T has only driven me. a lit
tic sooner than otherwise Anticipated. 10
ask you to listen 10 my suit. Miss Aida
must not imagine that she is the oplv
person IN the world who can get mar
ricd.'
Mary Ann drew herself up.
Mr.. Fairwcather," said She. ~ rnust
beg you to remember yourself We are
not Mormons here. Neither are YOU anv
relation 70 Blucbcard. In this country
man can have but one wifcw
Mr.. Falrwcathcr looked puzzlcd
IAN indisputablc fact, said nc. oBut
] know Of no one who is contradicting
How how dare you insult me bv
such words as thisi" cried poor NIary
Arn. "You, that arc engaged to Miss
Aida Marstonr
But am not engaged to Miss Aida
Marston"
Mr.. Fairweathcr I"
II am not, indeed " he said. 'Deor
little Mary Ann, do not look at me with
such incrcdulous eyes Miss Aldn Mara
ton Is aflianccd TO my father. She is to
be my stcp-mothcr, next month; and ms
would naturally, under the existing cir
cumstances prefer a home OF my own. /
want you to be its household angclr
Not another word was spoken Mary
AIMS soft eyes, brimming over with Glad
tears, were lifted 10 Johns face.
She stole toward him and hid her Grim.
son cheek against his shoulder; his arm
tghtcncd itself in the most natural man.
ner in the world, around her waist.
And when Miss Fos-ctt came down
stairs with the bag of hops. the two were
busily engaged iu picking up the balls OF
carpctrags which had rolled awav I'm
every direction.
1T was the cat auutv.n expaiDcd
Mary Ann. "Shc was asleep. boo thcvcrv
middle ~ the balls. and when She got up
aud stretched herself -"
"Cats arc dreadful bother when
there's work around '' said Miss F0,sctt
And after John Fairwcathcr had p9ne
home with bis stcpmothcr elect MARY
Ann wasn't the least bit iu the world ioai.
Ous Of Miss Aida Mortou now the 0irl
crcpt ou' bro the dow and stariuhttO pick
up the dried rOsebuds and the scented
pcranIum-leaycs.
oh, what q fool I was" She whi..
pcrcd softly 10 herself, "and how happv
] am at last"
She helped Miss Mar-ton with her
dresses, after nll, and when the rag car
pet was sewn and woven in rainbow
stripes, it occupied the place of honor ON
Mrs John Fairweatbcrs dainty j,tlc
kitchen floor
Isn't 10 pretty, Johu7' She cried. tho
hrst day DO was laid down
The prctucst thing ever saw in my